[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Very important, something you probably wouldn't even give thought to up north:

Make an appointment to establish a patient/doctor relationship with a dermatologist, and have an initial full body skin exam with him/her.

If there are no biopsies needed, or any biopsies come back as nothing concerning (like just a pigmented keratosis), then go back for an annual skin checkup with that doctor, every year without fail. For the rest of your life.

I had ZERO suspicious anythings back in Connecticut, I'd been to the dermatologist and they didn't even do a biopsy. I've been in The Villages for over four years now. Within the last two years, I've had two malignant melanomas removed, radiation to kill a basal cell carcinoma, a "severe dysplasia" abnormal growth removed, and I'll be having another one of those taken off my nose next month - with another TWO suspicious growths that we have to watch every 3 months for at least the next two years.

Very true about seeing dermatologist here regularly and keeping skin away from the sun. Florida sun is not your friend.

I have had mohs surgery and recently something else had to be biopsied so be careful out there.

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by Teed_Off

Find a shady, breezy spot at one of the pools when it’s too hot for you and you will be fine.

Except the pools climb to 95+ degrees in the summer, making them anything but refreshing. That was our biggest shock our first summer last year, more so than the heat/humidity. The villages pools need chillers for the summertime. We also came from the west with very dry weather, and a much shorter hot season.

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

How do you acclimate?

Embrace it!

It is gonna be in the mid-90's here with more or less high humidity until October. You can choose to huddle around your A/C unit moaning about the GAWDawful heat, or you can make up your mind to enjoy it. It is like anything else: you can acclimate really fast if you make up your mind to do it and keep a positive attitude.

The Villages, as well as Florida in general, really lives up to it's name in the summer. Flowers--both wild and domestic--abound. Lawns and golf courses are a lush green that they never achieve in the winter. Snowbirds by and large have flown north, so tee times and restaurant reservations are a lot easier to get. If pickleball, tennis, etc. are your thing, courts (especially in the afternoons) are readily available and most of them have ice-cold water available for the patrons. Life moves slower here in the summer and people by and large seem friendlier. Bear in mind that "hot and humid" are guaranteed, but the thermometer almost never reaches triple digits here and an ample supply of water will get you through even extended outdoor sessions. Just don't forget your umbrella, or you might end up cooling off really quick! Those storms can blow up out of nowhere.

Great attitude! We aren’t minding the heat, though we do love our AC in the house and our golf cart, lol. Like I said in my other comment we’d just like the pools to be more refreshing. Otherwise, love the slower pace and less crowded paths, restaurants, etc.

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by George1964

Great thread... I'm beginning to pack for a lifestyle visit. Any suggestions for clothing to help deal with the heat?

Thanks,

-George

We did our lifestyle visit in June 2022, coming from SoCal. It was mid-90s all week. We wore shorts, t-shirts, hats/visors, sandals, and swimsuits for afternoon pool dips. You’ll have a great time! We now live here full time. No regrets!

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

7 years and I still hate the heat. I can take it if it's 95 and cloudy but most of the time is sunny and that really adds to the heat.

The cloud cover really helps with the high temps. It makes it way more bearable. Also, the summer afternoon storms are nice sometimes, other times they make it way more humid. 😅 I still love them though as I never saw storms like this where I moved from. They still fascinate me, but are scary at times too.

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by asianthree

We just pack and go north, is our answer to adjusting to heat. We also had a Chiller added to the pool to enjoy during summer. Not a fan of temp over 70, to say you get used to extreme heat, as you age one can have less mass, less muscle, cold is a norm. So maybe that’s how one acclimated to southern heat.

Doesn’t matter where you live elderly are cold in their house, car. Pretty sure our parents keep their heat on year round. 80-84 is their inside temp, and still wear a sweater. It’s hard to spend 5 minutes in their house.

If you leave all summer why have a chiller for your pool? Just curious. If we had a pool we’d definitely have a chiller, but we didn’t know the villages pools would be too hot in summer until our first summer here last year. Unfortunately, we don’t have a pool sized lot or we’d build one, so we just don’t swim most of the summer unless neighbors invite us. One by one every home in our neighborhood that can add a pool, is adding a pool, lol. 😜

[patfla06]

I grew up on Long Island and it took me 20 years to acclimate to Florida summers.

Even now I don’t spend a lot of time outside in Summer.

The main thing that helped was enclosing our lanai and putting in
air conditioning/heat.
This makes me feel like I’m enjoying being outside but comfortable.

The last 3 Summers have been very hot!!

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Nana2Teddy

Except the pools climb to 95+ degrees in the summer, making them anything but refreshing. That was our biggest shock our first summer last year, more so than the heat/humidity. The villages pools need chillers for the summertime. We also came from the west with very dry weather, and a much shorter hot season.

Keep throwing ice into the pool

[Blueblaze]

Originally Posted by MplsPete

I did a search: coldest weather in Plattsburg NY: 1981 -34.
I agree that's COLD, but -50 is just exaggeration. Just saying.

Plattsburg AFB had a policy of shutting down the flightline when the windchill hit -50. -34 plus a 20mph wind far exceeds -50. I was working that day in 1981, when they finally got around to shutting down the flightline, after my crew had spent most of the previous 8 hours taking turns sitting in the cockpit with the heat blower hung over the side, pretending to work. I never heard the official temp. All I know is they finally cut us lose while I still had all my fingers and toes.

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by patfla06

I grew up on Long Island and it took me 20 years to acclimate to Florida summers.

Even now I don’t spend a lot of time outside in Summer.

The main thing that helped was enclosing our lanai and putting in
air conditioning/heat.
This makes me feel like I’m enjoying being outside but comfortable.

The last 3 Summers have been very hot!!

Same with us with our lanai. Enclosed with mini-splits. It still heats up a bit from morning sun, but we’re looking at solar film or interior solar shades to combat that. Afternoons it’s great.

[Lea N]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

Curious as to how others have/ have not acclimated to living in Florida during the summer months.

I’m from the West (California, then 20 years in Colorado), where the summer temperatures generally peaked around the mid 80s during the day (50s at night), with very low humidity. My Colorado home didn’t even have air conditioning. I’ve never done well with heat, and that was the only real concern I had about moving to Florida.

Last summer, was my first summer here, and everyone told me that it was hotter than normal. We’ve already had some toasty temps this year, and I have seemed to have already surprisingly adapted to the Florida heat/humidity. I get out early in the morning for my physical activities, stay indoors for a few hours during the afternoons, then back out again for evening and social activities. I’ve come to actually look forward to summers here (way less crowded and I like the fact that it’s already warm when you wake up).

Have you adapted well to Florida summers, or is it a season you don’t look forward to?

I'm originally from Connecticut. July & August were the hottest months. When we moved to Florida in 96' it took me a long time to get used to the heat. But I was out of shape and over weight. When the weight came off, and I eventually got used to the hotter and more humid weather I was fine with it. Now I enjoy the heat in the summer. I don't spend a lot of time outdoors but I don't mind at all being outside in the heat when I can.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

I grew up in NM and have spent a good portion of my adult life there as well. I have a business in Albuquerque and so must spend time there. The scenery is incredible. It has four easy seasons, all nice except for the winds in the spring. The crime is off the charts high. Child welfare is the very worst of any state in the country. Schools and medical care rank among the worst in the country. NM is a terribly run poverty stricken state and a mess. I am very happy I no longer must live there.

I was stationed in NM vehicle insurance was crazy high do to half state population did not have vehicle insurance. You wanted no fault insurance in that state. Maybe it better than it was 30 years ago? But, I doubt it? It probably worse?